Rhythm (film)

Infobox_Film
name = Rhythm


caption = A theme of the film (as portrayed by actors Arjun and Meena)
Director = Vasanth
Cast = Arjun
Jyothika
Meena
Manivannan

Cinematography = Arthur A.Wilson Released = 2000
Director = Vasanth
language = Tamil
Music = A. R. Rahman

Main

"Rhythm" is a 2000 released Tamil film. The film stars Arjun, Meena, Jyothika, Ramesh Arvind and Manivannan. The music is by A.R.Rahman. The director is Vasanth. Cinematography is by Vinod and Arthur A. Wilson. The film was released in Aug 2000 in India and worldwide.Based on the real events which widowed people face while setting a steady course for their lives, the movie threads along the thin line between arthouse and commercial cinema. Rhythm follows the time-tested unusual love story formula, but succeeds in keeping the audience from realizing it. A good measure of its success lies with the astoundingly low-key emotional performances, brilliant music score and cinematography. The background score by A.R. Rahman as acknowledged by many as one of the finest in his career The film won critical acclaim upon its release.

Pre Release

Originally announced with pre release stills in websites in early 1997, the movie was 3 years in the making, considered to be a fairly long production time in the Indian film industry.The soundtrack of this movie, to be done by ace music composer AR Rahman was hyped about as being unique, different and novel based on the 5 elements of nature. In addition to the music, the cast of the movie included two reigning lead stars of Tamil cinema of the 1990s Arjun and Meena and their director Vasanth whom also carved a niche for himself in the cinema world known for off-beat, character-based storylines at the time.

The title branding of the movie was another contributing factor to the fan hype on the net projecting it to be a novel "musical based love story" by avid fans of AR Rahman. Though bits of news about the movie were released over time in entertainment magazines and tabloids, much of its production was generally low profile. At some point due to the long delay in its release, unconfirmed news was circulating that production has been shelved due to financial contraints.

Plot

Karthikeyan (Arjun), a photo editor in Mumbai, is a widower, having lost his wife Aruna (Jyotika) a few years back. His parents have only one mission in life - to see him married and happy again. Chitra (Meena), a bank officer girl whom Karthikeyan meets incidentally, gives them hope. She is a widow, her husband (Ramesh Arvind) having died too, and also has a son Shiva (Master Aditya). Each of them is trying to recuperate from the agony of losing their spouses. When they exchange their sad stories, Karthikeyan and Chitra discover that their pasts are linked by a disastrous train accident which occurred years ago.

Review

A mature love story that never fails to touch the heart... Rhythm is a movie which has a mature aura, presence and performance by two of the biggest stars in Tamil cinema history - Arjun and Meena

The movie has a solid script and screenplay for most of the time. Looks like RGV did only a little of his usual experimentation at last minute and stuck to a bound script. Good for him. A must watch movie and excellent contender for Oscars performance throughout...

The lead actress Meena , a popular 1990s actress who seems to have recently retired from the scene was exceptionally brilliant performance in each scene. Strangely enough, she looks the best in this movie in terms of makeup ...In my opinion, this movie had her in her best performance to date...Kudos to director vasanthActor Arjun primarily known for action roles has attempted a totally offbeat movie this time and probably the only movie which shows him in a restrained performance

The best part of this movie was the music which came as a refreshing break in the year 2000. the music for this film by AR Rahman was one of the finest in his career. The background score is a clear winner and is used effectively by the director Vasanth and AR Rahman to convey the intense emotions on screen

Camera work is slick but restrained for a movie in this time period. Though the visuals generally come as pleasing to the eye in the first half hour of the show (train station, subway and the metro city feel of Bangalore), they seem to be marred in the later stages..By then you will not notice too much of that though since the story have gotten quite absorbed into you by then

Overall Rhythm is reminiscent of yesteryear's Tamil movies of the 1980s which touched on subjects like marital, divorce, death and hope.

Also in the mix are themes like strict culturalism and traditions of India that are still continuing in their modern society.

This movie has material which will be talked about and analysed in film festivals in the years ahead. Overall, Rhythm makes your heart go Rhythmic. Highly Recommended.

Cast

oundtrack

Infobox Album
Name = Rhythm
Type = Album
Artist = A. R. Rahman


Released = 2000 (India)
Recorded =
Genre = Film soundtrack
Length =
Label = HMV
Producer =
Reviews =
Last album = "Kandukondain Kandukondain" 2000
This album = "Rhythm" 2000
Next album = "Thenali" 2000|

The soundtrack features 5 songs composed by A. R. Rahman, with lyrics by Vairamuthu. The songs were inspired by the elements of the world.

The soundtrack was well received by music fans upon its initial release and has been hailed as an ingenious piece of work by A. R. Rahman and appeared in the list of top selling soundtracks in its opening week.

The film background score also done by A. R. Rahman manages to seamlessly flow into the story and draws the viewer into the scene.

The soundtrack has been acknowledged as one of A. R. Rahman's best works

Trivia

*Actor Arjun primarily known for action roles had attempted a totally off beat role in this film and probably the only one which showed him in a restrained performance.

*A lot of care had gone into Meena’s make-up and acting in this film.

*Actor Arjun having played a news reporter in "Mudhalvan", a smash hit thriller, repeated a similar role as a photo journalist in this film a year later.

*Arjun and Meena came together for a 2nd time in this film. Both last appeared together in lead roles in 1994.

*A.R.Rahman and Vasanth came together for the first time in this film.
* The music was reused later in the Hindi language film, "Lakeer" (2004)